Judicial Guide to the Structured Decision Making® Model in Juvenile Justice

The Structured Decision Making® (SDM) model for juvenile justice, a group of standardized assessments developed by NCCD, identifies the risk levels of system-involved young people and helps judges determine their best disposition options in court. These assessments also help courts place youth in the least restrictive environments needed to ensure public safety. NCCD has developed this judicial guide to address the needs and concerns of judges around decision points in the juvenile justice system. Other juvenile justice stakeholders will also find useful information on decision points, adolescent development research, and best practices.